Botanical Art & Illustration Classes

Contemporary botanical art captures the beauty of the natural world with precision, and our extraordinary instructors share their expertise in this nurturing yet rigorous program. NYBG offered North America’s first formal botanical art certificate program, and has remained a leader in the discipline for more than three decades. Whether you are looking for personal enrichment or a professional credential, the NYBG Certificate is a prestigious indicator of mastery and accomplishment.

From
the
fiddlehead
to
the
frond,
ferns
have
a
charm
all
their
own.
In
the
studio
and
the
Conservatory,
you'll
examine
some
of
their
special
adaptations
and
growth
patterns,
then
use
your
graphite
pencil
or
pen
and
ink
to
create
more...

Examine
the
enormous
variety
of
forms
and
structural
adaptations
of
flowering
plants—the
world's
dominant
plant
group.
Through
lectures,
demonstrations,
and
laboratory
studies,
learn
to
recognize
and
draw
the
many
plant
parts
and
growth
stages
of
the
most
common
plant
families.
more...

Having
a
professional
online
presence
is
essential
to
getting
the
word
out
about
your
work.
In
this
hands-on
class,
you
will
build
a
simple
website
(no
coding
required!)
to
showcase
your
portfolio
using
Wix.com,
a
free
and
easy-to-use
platform.
We
more...

Do
you
ever
wish
you
could
capture
the
details
of
a
plant
long
after
you've
seen
it?
This
intro
class
teaches
you
how
to
make
realistic
drawings
of
plants
using
a
variety
of
techniques.
Learn
to
draw
a
selection
of
more...

Painting
with
yellow
in
watercolor
presents
many
challenges,
and
subjects
can
easily
be
overpainted.
Learn
to
work
with
a
wide
variety
of
warm
and
cool
yellows,
and
practice
mixing
and
applying
their
shadow
hues
using
daffodils
and
other
yellow
flowers.
more...

Building
on
Botanical
Drawing
I
skills,
learn
to
tone
fruit,
vegetables,
leaves,
and
branches.
Focus
on
concepts
of
light
source,
value,
and
shading
to
create
form.
Learn
to
translate
color
into
black
and
white,
and
create
the
illusion
of
depth
more...

Enjoy
painting
botanical
watercolors
in
a
relaxed
atmosphere.
This
class
is
designed
for
both
inexperienced
students
and
those
who
wish
to
improve
their
skills.
Sign
up
for
one
section,
or
several!
Lectures
and
demonstrations
are
enhanced
by
individual
instruction.
Work
more...

Accurate
observation
translates
into
sensitive,
realistic
drawings
and
is
an
essential
skill
for
botanical
artists.
Using
basic
shapes,
fruit,
and
leaves,
learn
contour
drawing
with
an
emphasis
on
proportion,
and
explore
techniques
such
as
foreshortening,
perspective,
and
line
weight.
more...

Use
the
warmth
and
elegance
of
sepia
to
enhance
your
watercolor
skills
in
washes,
developing
tone
and
adding
detail.
Regardless
of
your
watercolor
abilities,
you
will
gain
painting
confidence
by
working
in
monochromatic
sepia
paint—without
worrying
about
color.
At
the
more...

Examine
the
enormous
variety
of
forms
and
structural
adaptations
of
flowering
plants—the
world's
dominant
plant
group.
Through
lectures,
demonstrations,
and
laboratory
studies,
learn
to
recognize
and
draw
the
many
plant
parts
and
growth
stages
of
the
most
common
plant
families.
more...

Strengthen
your
drawing
skills
with
an
in-depth
study
of
tonal
values
and
how
to
apply
them
using
graphite.
Revisit
the
basic
shapes
and
the
principles
of
shading.
Learn
to
use
these
basic
drawing
tools
to
interpret
the
3D
forms
of
more...

To
create
a
memorable
work
of
art,
you
must
carefully
position
your
subjects
on
the
page.
Using
a
variety
of
exercises,
we'll
experiment
with
a
wide
range
of
principles,
including
balance,
focal
points,
and
the
rule
of
thirds,
that
will
more...

With
a
little
planning
and
patience
the
botanical
artist
can
incorporate
several
seasons
within
one
painting.
In
the
spring
session,
you'll
paint
the
beautiful
crabapple
blossoms,
then
return
in
the
fall
to
add
a
fruiting
branch.
Sign
up
for
one
more...

Each
spring,
New
York
trees
blossom
in
abundance—
from
simple
oaks
and
maples,
to
exuberant
dogwood,
crabapples,
and
magnolias.
Instructor
Frank
Guida
takes
you
en
plein
air
to
draw
ethereal
drifts
of
blossoms
on
the
bough,
and
develop
your
skill
more...

Revel
in
spring
while
learning
how
to
layer
watercolor,
colored
pencil,
and
watercolor
pencil
to
create
rich
color,
detail,
and
form.
You'll
experiment
with
a
dynamic
blend
of
botanical
drawing
and
painting
techniques
while
focusing
on
the
structure
of
spring
more...

Enjoy
painting
botanical
watercolors
in
a
relaxed
atmosphere.
This
class
is
designed
for
both
inexperienced
students
and
those
who
wish
to
improve
their
skills.
Sign
up
for
one
section,
or
several!
Lectures
and
demonstrations
are
enhanced
by
individual
instruction.
Work
more...

Flowers
exist
to
produce
seeds,
and
some
flower
species
have
developed
fascinating
structures
to
aid
pollination
and
seed
distribution.
Use
microscopes
to
investigate
this
intricate
architecture,
while
capturing
its
beauty
in
graphite.
Focus
on
how
form
follows
function
in
flowers.
more...

Building
on
Botanical
Drawing
I
skills,
learn
to
tone
fruit,
vegetables,
leaves,
and
branches.
Focus
on
concepts
of
light
source,
value,
and
shading
to
create
form.
Learn
to
translate
color
into
black
and
white,
and
create
the
illusion
of
depth
more...

Do
you
ever
wish
you
could
capture
the
details
of
a
plant
long
after
you've
seen
it?
This
intro
class
teaches
you
how
to
make
realistic
drawings
of
plants
using
a
variety
of
techniques.
Learn
to
draw
a
selection
of
more...

This
comprehensive
class
covers
the
basic
techniques
of
botanical
watercolor.
Learn
how
to
use
your
brushes
to
make
smooth,
underlying
washes,
as
well
as
to
create
fine
detail.
Color
theory
will
teach
you
how
paints
interact,
and
how
to
select
more...

Do
you
ever
wish
you
could
capture
the
details
of
a
plant
long
after
you've
seen
it?
This
intro
class
teaches
you
how
to
make
realistic
drawings
of
plants
using
a
variety
of
techniques.
Learn
to
draw
a
selection
of
more...

Many
flowers
and
fruits
have
fascinating
architecture
that
must
be
enlarged
in
order
to
be
rendered
properly.
Use
a
dissecting
microscope
to
closely
examine
samples
and
learn
specific
techniques
to
measure
and
scale
up
your
botanical
subjects
for
final
artwork.
more...

Enjoy
painting
botanical
watercolors
in
a
relaxed
atmosphere.
This
class
is
designed
for
both
inexperienced
students
and
those
who
wish
to
improve
their
skills.
Sign
up
for
one
section,
or
several!
Lectures
and
demonstrations
are
enhanced
by
individual
instruction.
Work
more...

From
gerbils
to
giraffes,
and
big
cats
to
house
cats,
mammals
make
inspiring
subjects.
Learn
the
basic
anatomy
common
among
mammals,
including
underlying
skeletal
and
muscular
structures
to
help
you
create
realistic
renderings.
Develop
techniques
to
address
subtle
differences
in
more...

Accurate
observation
translates
into
sensitive,
realistic
drawings
and
is
an
essential
skill
for
botanical
artists.
Learn
contour
drawing
with
an
emphasis
on
proportion,
and
explore
techniques
such
as
foreshortening,
perspective,
and
line
weight.

Pen
and
ink,
among
the
most
versatile
and
useful
media,
can
be
used
to
create
high
quality,
easily
reproducible
drawings.
Learn
how
to
produce
different
strokes
and
how
to
create
tone
by
using
stipple,
line,
and
crosshatch
techniques.
more...

there
is
magic
in
iridescence.
Renowned
natural
science
artist
and
author
of
the
recently
published
The
Art
of
Botanical
&
Bird
Illustration
Mindy
Lighthipe
will
show
you
how
to
capture
the
beguiling
shimmer
on
peacock
feathers,
beetle
exoskeletons,
butterfly
wings,
more...

The
focus
of
this
course
is
on
color
theory
and
application.
Colored
pencil
line
and
tone
can
be
applied
to
look
like
either
drawing
or
painting,
making
it
a
versatile
medium
for
creating
botanical
artwork.
Learn
a
variety
of
techniques,
more...

The sensual hibiscus flower, a focus of O'Keeffe's work during her time in Hawai`i, continues to beguile. Practice blending colored pencil and watercolor pencil to capture the tropical stunner's undulating petals and dramatic reproductive structure.

Apply
Botanical
Drawing
I
skills
and
techniques
to
simple
relevant
subjects.
Focus
on
concepts
of
light
source,
value,
and
shading
to
create
form.
Learn
to
translate
color
into
black
and
white,
and
create
the
illusion
of
depth
and
space
in
more...

As
a
medium,
carbon
dust
has
been
a
mainstay
for
natural
science
illustrators
for
nearly
a
century.
The
technique
combines
carbon
pencil
lines
and
dust
"washes"
applied
with
brushes,
resulting
in
rich,
tonal
renderings
with
a
strong
value
range
and
more...

Explore
how
to
evoke
the
craggy,
peeling,
or
gnarled
textures
of
bark
using
silverpoint,
whose
shine
develops
a
soft
patina
over
time,
adding
complexity
to
your
drawing.
Using
a
silver
wire
held
in
a
stylus,
experiment
with
all
aspects
of
more...

Accurate
observation
translates
into
sensitive,
realistic
drawings
and
is
an
essential
skill
for
botanical
artists.
Using
basic
shapes,
fruit,
and
leaves,
learn
contour
drawing
with
an
emphasis
on
proportion,
and
explore
techniques
such
as
foreshortening,
perspective,
and
line
weight.
more...

The
focus
of
this
course
is
on
color
theory
and
application.
Colored
pencil
line
and
tone
can
be
applied
to
look
like
either
drawing
or
painting,
making
it
a
versatile
medium
for
creating
botanical
artwork.
Learn
a
variety
of
techniques,
more...

This
comprehensive
class
covers
the
basic
techniques
of
botanical
watercolor.
Learn
how
to
use
your
brushes
to
make
smooth,
underlying
washes,
as
well
as
to
create
fine
detail.
Color
theory
will
teach
you
how
paints
interact,
and
how
to
select
more...

Do
you
ever
wish
you
could
capture
the
details
of
a
plant
long
after
you've
seen
it?
This
intro
class
teaches
you
how
to
make
realistic
drawings
of
plants
using
a
variety
of
techniques.
Learn
to
draw
a
selection
of
more...

Enjoy
painting
botanical
watercolors
in
a
relaxed
atmosphere.
This
class
is
designed
for
both
inexperienced
students
and
those
who
wish
to
improve
their
skills.
Sign
up
for
one
section,
or
several!
Lectures
and
demonstrations
are
enhanced
by
individual
instruction.
Work
more...

An
accordion
book
is
the
perfect
format
for
telling
the
life
cycle
of
a
species,
whether
plant
or
animal.
From
seed
to
seed
for
a
plant,
or
from
egg
to
maturity
for
a
bird,
the
story
is
revealed
with
each
more...

Accurate
observation
translates
into
sensitive,
realistic
drawings
and
is
an
essential
skill
for
botanical
artists.
Using
basic
shapes,
fruit,
and
leaves,
learn
contour
drawing
with
an
emphasis
on
proportion,
and
explore
techniques
such
as
foreshortening,
perspective,
and
line
weight.
more...

Do
you
ever
wish
you
could
capture
the
details
of
a
plant
long
after
you've
seen
it?
This
intro
class
teaches
you
how
to
make
realistic
drawings
of
plants
using
a
variety
of
techniques.
Learn
to
draw
a
selection
of
more...

With
a
little
planning
and
patience
the
botanical
artist
can
incorporate
several
seasons
within
one
painting.
In
the
spring
session,
you'll
paint
the
beautiful
crabapple
blossoms,
then
return
in
the
fall
to
add
a
fruiting
branch.
Sign
up
for
one
more...

This
comprehensive
class
covers
the
basic
techniques
of
botanical
watercolor.
Learn
how
to
use
your
brushes
to
make
smooth,
underlying
washes,
as
well
as
to
create
fine
detail.
Color
theory
will
teach
you
how
paints
interact,
and
how
to
select
more...